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Lesson 207 of 240

New here? This is lesson 207 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

I heard in English

Danny leans into the Blue Plate with news about the jukebox. He did not see it. He only heard it.

Ana repeats the story at the counter. Dee does not open the box. She says it is only a rumor.

You'll learn how to pass on news you heard, how to doubt it, and how to warn a friend not to spread it.

By the end of this lesson

Say news you heard from others, say it might be wrong, and warn a friend not to spread it.

  • I heard that ___.Someone told me this, but I did not see it myself.
  • People are saying ___.A lot of folks are repeating this news.
  • I don't know if it's true.This might be wrong.
  • That's just what I heard.I'm only passing on a rumor.
  • Better ask them yourself.You should hear it from that person.
  • I wouldn't spread that around.Don't keep telling this to everyone.

Scene — news at the door

Same afternoon on Larch Street. Ana is at a booth with coffee. Danny pokes his head in from the food truck.

Dee stands behind the counter with the coffee pot. Murray sits on two stools. His cup is still full. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana sits with coffee while Danny leans through the diner doorway and Dee waits behind the counter.

Learn — pass on what you heard

Six lines help you pass on news you heard and say it might be wrong.

You also learn a kind warning: do not spread a rumor around.

  1. Danny shares secondhand news with Ana, who turns from the booth to listen.

    I heard that ___.

    Someone told me this, but I did not see it myself.

    When to use it: Say this when you pass on news you did not see.

    Heard is past tense. You already got the news.

    Say it: Heard and that can link.

  2. Dee pauses with the coffee pot and listens to the conversation near the doorway.

    People are saying ___.

    A lot of folks are repeating this news.

    When to use it: Say this when many people repeat the same news.

    After saying, add the news you did not check.

  3. Ana reacts with quiet doubt to the news while seated at the booth.

    I don't know if it's true.

    This might be wrong.

    When to use it: Say this when the news might be wrong.

    Don't and it's are each one piece.

    Say it: Don't has a clear n sound.

  4. Danny opens both palms in a relaxed shrug to distance himself from the rumor.

    That's just what I heard.

    I'm only passing on a rumor.

    When to use it: Say this when you only pass on a rumor.

    You did not see this. You only heard it.

  5. Dee directs Ana toward the original source rather than encouraging more secondhand talk.

    Better ask them yourself.

    You should hear it from that person.

    When to use it: Say this when they should hear it from that person.

    Better here means it is wiser, not an order.

  6. Dee gently signals that the rumor should not spread while Ana and Murray pause at the counter.

    I wouldn't spread that around.

    Don't keep telling this to everyone.

    When to use it: Say this as a kind warning, not a scold.

    Wouldn't is one piece. You advise them not to tell all.

    Say it: Wouldn't keeps a clear n sound.

Story — any day now

Watch Danny bring a rumor into the diner. Ana passes it on at the counter. Dee will not open the box.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon light hits the counter. Danny leans in from the boulevard, still grinning.
  2. DannyI heard that B7 will play any day now.Someone told him B7 will play soon, but he did not see it.
  3. AnaHow do you know that?Who told you this, or how did you learn it?
  4. DannyPeople are saying it'll play any day now.A lot of folks are repeating this news.
  5. AnaI don't know if it's true.This might be wrong.
  6. DannyThat's just what I heard. Go ask Dee.I'm only passing on a rumor.
  7. Ana walks to the counter. Dee holds the coffee pot. Murray sits on two stools.
  8. AnaI heard that B7 will play any day now.Someone told me this, but I did not see it myself.
  9. DeePeople are saying a lot of things on the block, hon.A lot of folks are repeating this news.
  10. AnaShould I ask them myself?She asks if she should speak to those people.
  11. DeeBetter ask them yourself, hon. I'm not opening that box.You should hear it from that person.
  12. MurrayThe version I heard was different.Someone told me another story of this.
  13. AnaI don't know if it's true.This might be wrong.
  14. DeeI wouldn't spread that around. It's just talk.Don't keep telling this to everyone.
  15. The jukebox clicks toward a blank button, then plays nothing.

Practice — rumor or fact

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay on rumors, so you practice passing news you did not see.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I don't know if it's true.Drop the Simple English here
    That's just what I heard.Drop the Simple English here
    Better ask them yourself.Drop the Simple English here
    I wouldn't spread that around.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to tell Dee that many people on the block are repeating the news about B7.

  4. What does it mean?

    I wouldn't spread that around.

  5. Build the line

    This might be wrong.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Build the line

    You should hear it from that person.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You only passed on a rumor. You did not see it.

    That's just what I ____.

  8. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    So is it true or not?

    He wants a yes or no about the rumor.

    And you reply with:

  9. True or false?

    This line means you saw the news happen.

  10. What do you say?

    A friend tells a story. The story you heard is not the same.

Say it — say what you heard

Now you're Ana. Danny brings a rumor, and Dee waits at the counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DannyYou hear anything about the jukebox?He asks if you have news about the jukebox.
  2. Ana (you)Say you heard B7 will play any day now.

    I heard that ___.

    Someone told me this, but I did not see it myself.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I heard that ___.Someone told me this, but I did not see it myself.
People are saying ___.A lot of folks are repeating this news.
I don't know if it's true.This might be wrong.
That's just what I heard.I'm only passing on a rumor.
Better ask them yourself.You should hear it from that person.
I wouldn't spread that around.Don't keep telling this to everyone.
Next: lesson 208What someone said

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these rumor lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these rumor lines ready at the counter.

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